The effect of linseed oil on rose scale Aulacaspis rosae (Bouché) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) in Greenhouse grown rose crops as an alternative pest management strategy | Alternative Bekämpfungsstrategien gegen die Kleine Weiße Rosenschildlaus Aulacaspis rosae (Bouché) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) an Schnittrosen unter Glas mittels dem Einsatz von Leinöl

The rose scale Aulacaspis rosae has proven to be extremely difficult to control. For some years Hamburg flower producers have reported an increase in infestations in greenhouse grown rose crops. So far no pest management program, including natural, mechanical and chemical methods, have provided effective control. The rose scale feeds on parenchyma plant sap and is mainly found on the woody parts of roses. Under greenhouse conditions several generations may appear in a single year. Contact insecticides do not penetrate the protective covering of the scale insects and are most effective when applied on young larvae stages which are not protected by the shield-like cover yet. However due to long hatching periods the occurance of larvae overlaps with the hatching of the following generation. The outcome of this is a continuous presence of newly emerged larvae on the plants. Resulting in that pesticides need to be frequently applied which is both time consuming and impractical for the gardeners. Another problem is the limited coverage of the infested plant parts when pesticides get sprayed. The scale insects are well protected by both the leafage of the roses and also they tend to crowd together and stack in layers making it harder for contact pesticides to be effective. Systemic insecticides may be effective only on those scales infesting the leaves or those that are actively producing honeydew and showed no sufficient efficacy in practical usage against the rose scale. By searching for an adequate pest management method, linseed oil was tested as an alternative application agent. Linseed oil is a drying oil and polymerizes into a solid form by reacting with oxygen in air. Treatments on permanent rose crops infested by rose scales could decrease the occurance of larvae in a knock-down effect. Newly emerged larvae could be kept sustainably on a low infestation level. The results are showing a promising pest control with good efficacy.